As Cuba goes through one of the harshest phases of its social and economic crisis, activists Yamilka Laffita (Lara Crofs) and Daniela Peral returned to the streets of Havana, putting their bodies and hearts on the line to assist people experiencing homelessness, just as the cold and hunger combine to pose a direct threat to the most vulnerable.
In a post on Facebook, Crofs detailed the results of the first of her solidarity outings this week: 35 meals (rice with corn, ground beef habanera style, salad, and sweet potato with sauce) and over 50 coats.
But he made it clear that the challenge goes far beyond the numbers:
"More than food and shelter, it's about reaching out your hand, having a conversation for a while, learning a bit about their stories, so they don’t feel alone and completely helpless," he emphasized.
Crofs was emphatic in describing the reality she encountered.
"People experiencing homelessness in Cuba are facing total abandonment; they have no place to eat, sleep, or take a bath. For the most part, they only suffer from indifference and contempt," he lamented.
However, there was something that particularly impacted her: "For the first time, I saw several mothers with very young children, both experiencing a great deal of vulnerability."
In light of the advancing cold, they announced that they will go out again with more aid: with medications, diapers, and more clothing.
"Very cold days are coming, and these people are in great danger outdoors," he pointed out.
To sustain the effort, he asked for citizen support and explained that he set up a way to receive donations: Card MN 9205 9598 7787 1948, please confirm at +53 50825677.
In another message, Crofs explained the enormous logistical challenges of delivering aid to those in need. She and Daniela are experiencing the same issues as the rest of the population: a lack of water, electricity, and gas.
"But we already have a way to proceed without having a panic attack from the fear of getting stuck halfway," she wrote, satisfied.
She also specified what strategy they use to reach more people: "Today we saw new faces, as we are not consistently going to the same places, although we have identified some areas where there is a higher concentration of people experiencing homelessness."
Lara Crofs' initiative takes on special significance these days.
Cuba has just experienced part of the country. In a situation where thousands of people lack shelter, stable food, and warmth, the cold is not just an inconvenience: it poses a real risk of death.
With inflation skyrocketing, chronic shortages, and salaries that barely cover even basic needs, even those who are employed struggle to secure a daily meal.
For those living on the streets, the situation is even more brutal.
Sleeping in doorways, terminals, or on sidewalks, without shelter, without a bathroom, and without medical care, is becoming an increasingly common sight in Havana and other cities across the country.
In this complete void of effective public policies, it is citizens like Lara and Daniela - and also religious communities like Sant’Egidio in Santiago de Cuba - who are taking on roles that are the responsibility of the State: to feed, shelter, accompany, and protect.
These gestures, while profoundly human and necessary, also serve as a silent protest. They demonstrate that the system has failed in the most fundamental way: ensuring that no one has to experience hunger, cold, and neglect in their own country.
In a Cuba where begging is on the rise and poverty is visible on every corner, citizen solidarity not only saves lives but also starkly highlights the government's inability to care for its people.
And the most alarming thing is that this is happening while the cold continues.
Forecasts indicate that there will also be low temperatures in Cuba this weekend, which keeps those who are still sleeping outdoors at high risk.
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